NFL preview: How high can 49ers' Kaepernick fly?

Eric Branch

Updated 9:47 pm, Sunday, September 1, 2013

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick, (7) meets with the news media during a press conference at the San Francisco 49ers training camp in Santa Clara, Calif. on Thursday July 25, 2013.
Photo: Michael Macor, San Francisco Chronicle

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick, (7) meets with the news media during...

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) during the first quarter of his NFL pre-season football game against the Minnesota Vikings at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif. on Aug. 25, 2013.
Photo: Stephen Lam, Special To The Chronicle

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) during the...

Colin Kaepernick quickly became an accurate passer and an elusive runner in his first opportunity as a starting quarterback, leading the 49ers within an eyelash of a title.
Photo: Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images

A year ago, before he was the subject of national-magazine covers and hyperbolic statements regarding his NFL potential, Colin Kaepernick was the object of mild mocking from his teammates.

During last year's training camp, Kaepernick, then the 49ers' second-string quarterback, had a penchant for dropping back, scanning the scout-team defense and ... fleeing the pocket.

Kaepernick bolted so frequently that members of the first-string defense, watching from the sideline, eventually began to good-naturedly needle him: "C'mon, throw the ball, Kaep!"

"It was about recognizing defenses and knowing when you can sit in the pocket a little longer and make that throw instead of just taking off," cornerback Carlos Rogers said. "In camp, he was pretty much running the scout team and when he didn't see what he liked, he just took off."

Just a few months later, Kaepernick, again, began to take off - into a stratosphere few young quarterbacks have ventured. After assuming the starting job from Alex Smith in mid-November, Kaepernick broke NFL records, helped reimagine the position with his size, strength and speed, and led the 49ers to their first Super Bowl in 18 years.

Now, entering his first full season as a starter, the question is obvious in light of his 2012 training-camp struggles: After transforming from a gently chided backup into a star last year, what can he accomplish if he makes another leap?

The expectations are already absurdly outsized: ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski recently declared the quarterback with seven regular-season starts "could be one of the greatest quarterbacks ever."

For his part, one of the greatest quarterbacks ever, Steve Young, is trying to temper those expectations. An unabashed 49ers fan though he works as an ESPN analyst, Young doesn't want Kaepernick to "feel like he has to play the Packers and run for 180 yards and set all kinds of records."

Still, at times, Young couldn't help himself as he recently reviewed what Kaepernick accomplished in his first 10 career starts.

"I mean, the first competitive NFL two-minute drill he had in his career was in the Super Bowl to win it. And he almost did it!" Young said, laughing. "I mean, that's just incredible. Incredible what happened."

There are, of course, strong parallels between Young and Kaepernick, dynamic, dual-threat quarterbacks determined to be recognized for their passing skills.

Kaepernick has bristled at the "running quarterback" label, believing it suggests he's not fully equipped mentally to master the nuances of the position. Young gets it. He ranks third in NFL history in rushing yards by a quarterback (4,239), and he's also second in passer rating (96.8).

"When people used to say I was a scrambler, that used to bug me," Young said. "When people said I was a running quarterback ... that just bugs you. They're trying to change people's perception of you as really efficient, in the pocket, delivering the ball, doing all the things that all the greats ever did. So I completely understand where he's coming from. And I encourage him to keep fighting the perception of it."

Kaepernick's 2012 performance speaks for him.

In his first playoff start, his legs were legendary: He had the most rushing yards (181) by a quarterback in NFL history in a divisional-round win over the Packers.

The next week, he had two carries and it was his arm that awed: In the NFC Championship Game, he had the third-best postseason completion percentage (76.2) in franchise history and the fifth-best passer rating (127.7). The only quarterbacks ahead of him on each list are Young and Joe Montana.

Young became a believer in Kaepernick's all-around brilliance midway through his first career start against the Bears. A few hours before kickoff, Young, speaking to reporters, offered this advice to the fleet, inexperienced quarterback: "Trust your legs more than your arm tonight."

Kaepernick then completed 12 of 15 passes for 184 yards and a touchdown in the first half. His rushing total: two carries, 6 yards.

"I knew that he was a hard-throwing guy, but he threw a lot of great touch passes," Young said. "I mean, most guys don't have the full repertoire of throws. Throw the hard ball, and come back and feather one in, and then drop a big rainbow deep ball.

"To me, that was the most impressive thing about the night. It was a great night. But all that ability I saw there - it's something that you realized it can be a lot more than one night. You can make a career out of all those throws."

Young is careful not to fuel the hype surrounding Kaepernick, a still-neophyte quarterback who was being teased for his one-dimensional play in practice just a year ago. Young notes that Kaepernick has yet to take a physical beating, and he still needs to polish his play in the red zone and on third downs.

There is still much to learn. And so much to accomplish.

"All the elements of quarterbacking, mastery of quarterbacking, need to be really focused on," Young said. "And the big picture will come. Because there doesn't seem to be anything that's going to hold him back."